Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Fulham

After Friday night's victory over Bristol City, Wanderers are back at Macron Stadium as they host Fulham this Saturday. Looking to maintain their advantage over the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of the Whites' clash with the Cottagers.

1. Home form

Having lost just once at home in the Sky Bet Championship since September, Friday night's victory over Bristol City sees Wanderers head into this weekend's fixtures three points clear of the relegation zone.

Boasting a game in hand over their rivals, the Whites know how important every last point will be come the end of the season.

Looking to make home advantage count once again after last week's victory over one of the division's promotion-hopefuls, Bolton will be hoping it's a case of same again against Fulham on Saturday.

There's no place like home. Back the boys this weekend! Tickets for tomorrow's game are open sale. Click HERE to buy online.

2. Sammy Ameobi

After selling Gary Madine to Cardiff City on Transfer Deadline Day, the Trotters turned to fellow-Geordie Sammy Ameobi to fill the striker's boots in attack last week, with the 25-year-old responding in memorable fashion.

A constant thorn in the Bristol City defence, Ameobi put in a man-of-the-match performance with his second half solo-efforts sealing all three points for Wanderers.

Utilised centrally, the forward initially supported loanee Tyler Walker in attack before pushing further forward following the introduction for Zach Clough.

Having shown his quality in both positions, and with one eye on a potential Nigeria call-up ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia, Ameobi will once again be the Whites' one-to-watch when they take to the field against Fulham.

And having already scored once against the Cottagers this season, you would not bet against him proving another decisive contribution!

3. Fulham at February

A quirk of the Football League fixture list, Saturday's game sees Bolton face Fulham for the seventh time in February since 2005, with five of those previous six encounters coming at Macron Stadium.

Although the Trotters' recent form against the Cottagers does not make for pretty reading, it's a different story when it comes to Wanderer's February form against Fulham with the Whites unbeaten in those aforementioned six matches, winning five.

And with their last victory in this fixture coming three years ago to the day of Saturday's match, a game which saw Adam Le Fondre score his first Bolton goal in a 3-1 win, maybe fortune will favour the Trotters come 3pm on Saturday.

4. Club shop signing session

Before the game tomorrow, winger Will Buckley will be in attendance for a signing session from 2pm in Bolton Central.

He will be in the Trotters’ retail outlet to meet supporters and sign autographs and memorabilia - a perfect pre-match treat for fans to take pictures with the Whites' number 11.

There will also be special offers available in Bolton Central including the opportunity to buy Wanderers Return and a 2018 calendar for a combined price of just £5 while there is also 20% off home and away shorts and socks.

The session will finish with plenty of time to get into the ground for the game, so come down and have your shirts signed by the midfielder!

5. Memories Match

Fans are being encouraged to wear retro shirts at Saturday's game in line with the fixture being Wanderers' official Memories Match in support of those suffering from dementia.

The special matchday is part of the Bolton Wanderers Community Trust’s ongoing support of Bolton becoming a dementia friendly town, beginning in Horwich.

The BWCT are part of the Bolton Dementia Action Alliance, which has the aim of bringing local organisations, groups and businesses together to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

Bolton Wanderers are holding this special matchday meanwhile to raise the awareness of dementia, social isolation and loneliness, alongside promoting Bolton Wanderers Community Trust’s Sporting Memories sessions that take place once a month at Macron Stadium.

A variety of fans' and former players' memories meanwhile will be published in the club's matchday programme.

For more information on how the club are supporting Bolton Dementia Action Alliance or on the Trust's Sporting Memories sessions, please visit www.bwct.org.uk or call 01204 673790.

The club's Family Faith Football focus group will also be meeting this weekend, with this particular session entitled 'Memorabilia', with further details available HERE.

Report: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Bristol City

Wanderers picked up a priceless victory over promotion-chasing Bristol City in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Friday evening.

The deadlock was broken with 19 minutes of the clash remaining as Sammy Ameobi picked up the ball in his own half and powered downfield before beating Luke Steele to send the Bolton faithful into raptures.

And come full time, his effort was enough to ensure that the three points remained with the Whites.

TEAM NEWS

There was a Bolton debut for Tyler Walker following his deadline day move to the club, while Mark Beevers was back in the mix after missing the Ipswich Town clash on January 20 through illness.

FIRST HALF

Following a period of pressure from the visitors that came to nothing much inside the opening stages, Wanderers sprung into life with former Bristol City man Mark Little causing trouble down the right flank, with his trickery into the box and consequent cross being cleared at the death.

Goalmouth chances were few and far between inside the first ten minutes, but Sammy Ameobi did come close shortly after as he twisted and turned and shrugged off the challenge of two City shirts before unleashing a drive which flew inches wide of Luke Steele’s far post.

It was an opportunity which had the Whites faithful out of their seats and hungry for more.

The Robins weren’t for sitting back though, and it was certainly a full-blooded affair with tackles flying in left, right and centre.

As the game reached its quarter-mark however, neither goalkeeper had been really tested, although Wanderers were the ones making the loudest noises in terms of attacking moves.

A goalmouth scramble ensued on the 26th minute mark too, with Steele fumbling the ball on the edge of the six yard box while Henry saw his eventual strike deflect off a white shirt and out of play.

The visitors then responded in kind though, as Bobby Reid’s cross narrowly eluded the advancing Famara Diedhiou who was well placed in the six yard box.

They also enjoyed a period of pressure in and around Bolton’s 18-yard box with eight minutes of the first half remaining, with a succession of blocked shots culminating in Reid putting his own effort a foot wide of the upright.

As the clock ran down to half-time, it was Bolton looking the more likely with the majority of play happening in City’s half, but come the break, the scores were goalless.

SECOND HALF

With no changes for either side at the break, proceedings got back underway under the floodlights.

And Wanderers almost broke the deadlock inside two minutes, with Josh Vela’s cross finding Mark Beevers who saw his effort blocked.

Coming so close buoyed the Whites, but City almost snatched the lead against the run of play through Diedhiou, only for Alnwick to somehow keep out his effort before David Wheater put in a superb sliding tackle on Korey Smith to clear Bolton’s lines.

The 57th minute of the clash however saw Zach Clough, fresh from his deadline day loan move back to Wanderers, enter the field in place of Walker, with the forward receiving a standing ovation from three sides of Macron Stadium on his return.

And he tried his luck just five minutes after coming into the fray with a free-kick from distance, but Steele was equal to his effort which unfortunately lacked bite.

He was certainly proving a handful for the City backline however, with a mazy run by him from just inside the visitors’ half soon after eventually being ended just outside of the penalty area.

Wanderers were knocking, and they were eventually rewarded with 19 minutes remaining as Ameobi picked up the ball in his own half of the pitch, shrugged off the challenge of his marker, powered downfield and unleashed an effort into the bottom corner of the Bristol net to the sheer delight of the Bolton faithful.

Stunned, the Robins set about trying to force a way back into the clash but were coming up against a stubborn Bolton backline.

Zach Clough meanwhile had a glorious opportunity to put the result to bed with five minutes left after finding himself unmarked just inside the box, but his effort sailed over the crossbar to the disbelief of the Wanderers fans.

The clock was ticking down to full time, and the home supporters could almost taste victory.

With four minutes of additional time indicated, it was all hands to the pump for Bolton to see the game out.

And come full time, their efforts were enough to secure three priceless points.

Ticket bulletin: Friday 2 February

Welcome to the ticket update for Friday 2 February. Here you will find all the information you need in a simple-to-read format regarding match tickets for Bolton Wanderers' upcoming fixtures.

WHO

WHEN

STATUS

PRICES

Bristol City (H)

Friday 2 February

8pm

Open sale

Adults from £26

Over-65s from £20

Under-23s from £20

Under-18s: £10

Under-12s: £8

Fulham (H)

Saturday 10 February

3pm

Open sale

Adults from £28

Over-65s from £22

Under-23s from £22

Under-18s: £11

Under-12s: £9

Cardiff City (A)

Tuesday 13 February

7.45pm

On sale to season ticket holders

Members: Monday 5 February

Open Sale: Wednesday 7 February

General Ticket Prices

Adults - £22

Over-60s - £18

Under-22s - £13

Under-16s - £10

Family Area Ticket Prices*

Adults - £15

Over-60s - £12

Under-22s - £10

Under-16s - £5

*No adult tickets will be sold without Under-16s and no Under-16s will be sold without adults in the designated Family Area.

Queens Park Rangers (A)

Saturday 17 February

3pm

On sale to season ticket holders

Members: Monday 5 February

Open Sale: Wednesday 7 February

Gold Ticket Prices

Adults - £33

Over-60s - £23

Under-22s - £23

Under-18s - £16

Silver Ticket Prices

Adults - £28

Over-60s - £19

Under-22s - £19

Under-18s - £13

Under-8s - Free (With full-paying adult)

Sunderland (H)

Tuesday 20 February

8pm

On sale to season ticket holders

Open Sale: Monday 5 February

Adults from £28

Over-65s from £22

Under-23s from £22

Under-18s: £11

Under-12s: £9

*Family Tickets are only available to purchase in the Bolton at Home Family Stand, situated in the North Stand Upper Tier

Corporate hospitality packages at home games are also available to Bolton Wanderers supporters. For more information email sales@bwfc.co.uk, phone the commercial team on 01204 673761, or buy online HERE.

Tickets and official club travel can be bought online at www.eticketing.co.uk/bwfc, in-person at Bolton Central or over the phone on 0844 871 2932 then press option two followed by option one.

Please note, it is a criminal offence to take alcohol onto coaches which are travelling to sporting events as per The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985. Bolton Wanderers reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone in possession or under the influence of alcohol. Any alcohol found on the coach will be confiscated.